| Summary: | "The present volume, a biographical note recounting the author's life is followed by an introduction of how the author came to deliver the lectures contained in this volume: which is designed to take a systematic, but popular, survey of the most interesting features of the general science of nature, for the purpose of elucidating what has been found obscure, controverting and correcting what has been felt erroneous, and developing, by new and original views and hypotheses, much of what yet remains to be more satisfactorily explained, derives its origin from the following circumstances:--Towards the close of the year 1810, the author had the honour of receiving a visit from a deputation of the Directors of the Surrey Institution, founded on what had been antecedently the Leverian Museum, with a request on the part of their Chairman, Dr. Adam Clarke, that he would undertake a department of lectures in that literary and scientific establishment; with the generous offer of leaving to himself a nomination of time, terms, and subject. He regretted his inability of acceding to so kind a request at that particular period; but being a little more at liberty not long afterward, he readily consented, on a second application by Dr. Lettsom and other Directors; and the ensuing volume contains the course of study he ventured to make choice of; the lectures having been divided into series, and delivered in successive years"--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved).
|
|---|